Pile supported drilling template

Abstract

A system is provided for installing a drilling template in a level orientation over an ocean floor. The drilling template is supported on a plurality of preset piles. The piles extend above the ocean floor. After the piles are set, their elevations are accurately determined, and pile-receiving sockets in the drilling template are finally fabricated to have depths corresponding to the respective piles to be received therein. Once the drilling template is lowered onto the piles, it is supported in a level orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of installing a subsurface template in a substantially level position above a floor of a body of water, comprising: (a) setting a plurality of piles into said floor, each of said piles having an upper end and thereupon determining said elevations of said upper ends of said piles by measuring said elevations after said piles are finally set in said floor;   (b) providing a template having a plurality of sockets for receiving said upper ends of said piles, said sockets each including a load-bearing member, said load-bearing members being elevationally spaced relative to each other substantially the same as the elevations of the respective upper ends of the piles to be received therein, thereupon completing fabrication of said template to position said load-bearing members thereon after measuring of said elevations;   (c) lowering said template into place over said plurality of piles so that said load-bearing members of said sockets are in load-bearing engagement with said upper ends of the respective piles received therein so that said template rests on said piles in a substantially level position over the floor of the body of water.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, being further characterized as a method of installing said template adjacent an existing structure on said floor, further comprising: prior to step (a), lowering a spacer frame through said body of water to a position on said floor adjacent said existing structure, said spacer frame including a plurality of pile guides; and   step (a) further includes setting said plurality of piles through said pile guides into said floor.   
     
     
       3. A method of installing a subsurface template in a substantially level position above a floor of a body of water, comprising: (a) setting a plurality of piles into said floor, each of said piles having an upper end;   (b) providing a template having a plurality of sockets for receiving said upper ends of said piles, said sockets each including a load-bearing member, said load-bearing members being elevationally spaced relative to each other substantially the same as the elevations of the respective upper ends of the piles to be received therein;   (c) lowering said template into place over said plurality of piles so that said load-bearing members of said sockets are in load-bearing engagement with said upper ends of the respective piles received therein so that said template rests on said piles in a substantially level position over the floor of the body of water; further comprising:   checking said template for a level orientation after step (c); and if said template is not sufficiently level: removing said template; increasing an elevation of said upper end of at least one of said piles; and replacing said template on said piles.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, being further characterized as a method of installing said template adjacent an existing structure on said floor, further comprising: prior to step (a), lowering a spacer frame through said body of water to a position on said floor adjacent said existing structure, said spacer frame including a plurality of pile guides; and   step (a) further includes setting said plurality of piles through said pile guides into said floor.